Darker and more adult than Shiver, "Lament" can still boast an exciting plot, well-made prose, and a memorable hero.

The fairy lore here is standard: plenty of folk song, capricious and dangerous creatures, and of course a cruel and powerful queen who cannot be defeated, only outwitted.

The heroine takes far too long to catch on to what her new boyfriend is. She spends a great deal of the book knowing something is off but refusing to look for more information. When she finally starts asking questions, the hero usually can't answer. He's under a geas that keeps his mouth shut, which is a standard convention in fairy stories but serves only to stall the plot here. In addition, the heroine's family have had dealings not only with fairy creatures but specifically with the heroine's new boyfriend before, but the most guidance or warning she gets from them is some confusing superstitious babble and her grandmother's iron ring. Why her grandmother couldn't simply sit her down and have a chat about why nice girls shouldn't date fairy assassins is beyond my ken.

All flaws and weaknesses aside, this book is a highly enjoyable read that leaves the reader impatient for the next installment in the series.